Nihonium properties
- Atomic number
- 113
- Atomic mass
- 286 u
- Category
- Unknown properties
- Group
- 13
- Period
- 7
- Block
- p-block
- State at room temp.
- Unknown
- Density
- —
- Electron affinity
- —
- Radioactive
- Yes, no stable isotopes
- Discovered
- 2004
Nihonium electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p1
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 5f14 6s2 6p6 6d10 7s2 7p1
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 32 · 18 · 3
The electron configuration of Nihonium (Nh) is [Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p1. Its 113 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, 3.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Nihonium
A neutral Nihonium atom has 113 protons and 113 electrons. Most Nihonium atoms have about 173 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 286, minus the atomic number 113.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Nihonium have?
3
Nihonium has 3 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 7. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
Nihonium orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Nihonium
286 g/mol
One mole of Nihonium atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 286 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Nihonium facts
- Nihonium was the first element discovered in Asia.
- Over roughly nine years of experiments, RIKEN's team detected only three atoms of nihonium.
- Nihonium (Nh) has atomic number 113. It was discovered in 2004.
Position in the periodic table
Nihonium is element 113, in period 7 and group 13 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
Uses of Nihonium
Nihonium has no uses outside research because only a small number of atoms have been made, and they decay within seconds. Scientists want to compare it with thallium, the element above it in group 13, to see how relativistic effects change its chemistry, but only a few first single-atom chemistry experiments have been attempted.
Who discovered Nihonium?
A team led by Kosuke Morita at RIKEN in Japan made nihonium in 2004 by bombarding bismuth with zinc ions, and it was credited with the discovery in 2015. Its name comes from Nihon, one of the Japanese names for Japan.
Where does the name come from?
Nihonium comes from Nihon, one of the Japanese names for Japan, often translated as 'land of the rising sun'. Scientists at the RIKEN institute made it, the first element discovered in an Asian country.
Same group
Compare Nihonium
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Nihonium?
The electron configuration of Nihonium (Nh) is [Rn] 5f14 6d10 7s2 7p1. Its 113 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, 3.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Nihonium have?
A neutral Nihonium atom has 113 protons and 113 electrons. Most Nihonium atoms have about 173 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 286, minus the atomic number 113.
How many valence electrons does Nihonium have?
Nihonium has 3 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 7. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
What is the molar mass of Nihonium?
The molar mass of Nihonium is 286 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 286 u.
Is Nihonium a metal?
Nihonium is a synthetic superheavy element, so too few atoms have been made to measure whether it behaves as a metal.
Is Nihonium radioactive?
Yes. Nihonium has no stable isotopes, so all of its atoms are radioactive and eventually decay into other elements.
Where is Nihonium on the periodic table?
Nihonium is element 113, in period 7 and group 13 of the periodic table, in the p-block.